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STONE MOUNTAIN: Art Westrom, electrical engineer
Derrick Henry - Staff Saturday, February 2, 2002
Without a doubt, Art Westrom was plugged in.
During a five-decade career in electric power systems, the Stone Mountain resident received 13 patents and published more than 100 articles.
"He was quite an electrical engineer," said a colleague, John Astleford of Stone Mountain.
Mr. Westrom developed lightning protection systems, high voltage switches and current-limiting fuses for electric utility systems. These products "protect people against down and live wires and high voltage hazards," said his son, Douglas Westrom of Atlanta, who also is an electrical engineer.
"When electric utility systems began to install transformers out of sight, the equipment had to change," said Mr. Astleford. "A lot of Art's work was directed at underground application. He worked on equipment that would locate failures in underground cable systems and served as a member of the steering committee for a consortium of companies who wanted to develop better underground transformers."
For his lifetime achievement, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), presented Mr. Westrom with its most prestigious award, the 2001 Herman Halperin Award "for innovation, design and commercialization of electric power distribution products."
Arthur C. Westrom died of complications of heart disease on his 78th birthday Tuesday while attending the IEEE winter meeting in New York City. His body was cremated. The memorial service is 4 p.m. today at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain. Ruggiero & Sons of New York City and A.S. Turner & Sons of Decatur are in charge of arrangements.
The youngest of nine children, Mr. Westrom grew up in Chicago during the Great Depression. His father died when he was 8.
He earned an electrical engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1950, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college. That same year, he joined Hubbard & Co. in Chicago, which merged with Kearney National in 1964. In 1969 the company relocated its home office to the Atlanta area, and Mr. Westrom transferred with it.
After his retirement in 1996, he established his own company, Westrom Technologies, developing an underground transformer and a system that uses cellular phone infrastructure for automated power distribution.
Mr. Westrom loved gourmet food --- one of his favorite restaurants was the Buckhead Diner --- but he didn't show it. He stood 6 feet tall and weighed only 145 pounds.
"He was very thin without an ounce of fat," said his neighbor, Ernest L. McClure of Stone Mountain. Mr. Westrom's secret, said Mr. McClure, was that he ate well but "sparingly."
Mr. Westrom also kept fit through tennis and other outdoor activities.
"We've skied together in Aspen, gone deer and antelope hunting in Wyoming, goose hunting in Illinois and fishing in Acapulco," said his longtime friend, Jim Tracy of Orland Park, Ill.
Additional survivors include his wife, Marlene Westrom of Stone Mountain; two daughters, Lisa Booth of Marietta and Christy Westrom of Sydney, Australia;a sister, Betty Lou Bechler of Amarillo, Texas; and a grandchild.
Without a doubt, Art Westrom was plugged in. During a five-decade career in electric power systems, the Stone Mountain resident received 13 patents and published more than 100 articles. "He was quite an electrical engineer," said a colleague, John Astleford of Stone Mountain.
Art Westrom spent the better part of his 77 years dedicated to his family, friends and his profession. He passed away on Tuesday, January 29th at the New York Hilton, while attending the IEEE (Power Engineering Society) annual winter meeting. Arthur is survived by his wife, Marlene, and three grown children, Lisa Booth, Christy Westrom and Douglas Westrom. He had one grandchild, Melanie, whom he adored. Arthur moved to Atlanta with the family in 1969, when Keamey National moved their home offices to the Northlake area. He worked for over forty years, after which he opened a consulting business at his home. He remained active in creating and educating professionals till the end. Arthur and his family lived in the Smoke Rise area of DeKalb County, where he participated as a volunteer in civic, church, and social activities. During his professional career, Arthur published more than a hundred articles in technical journals and industry papers. Among his numerous achievements are creating and directing the operation of a R & D test laboratory in Chicago and pioneering the development of a load-breaker connector with a three-phase performance rating. He holds a total of thirteen patents for the products he developed during his career. The highlight of Art's career was receiving the Halperin Award in 2001 from IEEE for his contributions to the innovation, design, and commercialization of electric power distribution products. There will be a memorial service to honor Arthur at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 5801 Hugh Howell Road, at 4 p.m. Saturday, February 2nd.
